Our Top Picks From OC Restaurant Week 2025
- Pallavi Meera
- February 28, 2025
From stylish lounges and waterfront spots to upscale restaurants in restored, age-old mansions, these eateries are a diverse bunch.
One of Orange County’s most awaited culinary events—OC Restaurant Week (March 2 – 8, 2025), is back, and we’re here to guide you through the diverse range of options. Here are our top picks from OC Restaurant Week. With meticulously curated prix-fixe menus, this week-long food festival offers residents and tourists the chance to explore the varied and colorful dining scene of the region. To help you navigate this delicious week, we’ve curated a guide of our top picks, showcasing the eateries that are offering something truly unique. Whether you’re searching for a restaurant for a girls’ night out, a date, a milestone celebration, or a hidden gem, we have you covered. Bookmark this guide for an exciting culinary adventure in Orange County!
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria offers upscale, Tulum-inspired food in a fast-casual setting. The eatery boasts a “from scratch” ethos, creating its own blue corn and flour tortillas, the foundation for tacos and burritos that are conceptualized to deliver a kaleidoscope of textures and flavors in every bite. The restaurant’s setting transports guests to a tranquil, open-air retreat in Tulum, Mexico. Verdant greenery, eye-catching elm wood countertops, and an aesthetically pleasing space comprising a mezzanine, charming main floor, and heated patio contribute to a relaxed, welcoming ambiance.
For their inaugural Restaurant Week, Salt & Lime has three offerings—a $25 three-course lunch, a $35 three-course dinner, and a $75 four-course ‘Date Night for Two.’ These menus feature crowd-favorite dishes such as the Small Batch Guacamole, Esquites, Slow Braised Short Rib Taco, Crispy Chicken Tender Taco, Tempura Local Halibut Taco, Churro Sundae, and Housemade Cookie. Moreover, during Restaurant Week, guests can order the Woodford Reserve Blinker, a specialty cocktail celebrating the delicate flavors of pomegranate and grapefruit.
Great Maple has had a cult following since its 2011 Newport Beach inception. With outposts extending from Orange County to San Diego, the establishment is well-loved for its mid-century modern interiors and elevated American comfort cuisine. The restaurants, each a stylishly designed space, serve tasty dishes crafted from seasonal and sustainably sourced ingredients. The menu’s appeal lies in its fun twists of classic American fare, showcased by the signature Fried Chicken and Maple Bacon Doughnuts, the Turkey Bolognese, and a rotating selection of seasonally inspired cocktails.
Great Maple’s Anaheim and Newport Beach locations, situated within Disneyland’s Pixar Place Hotel and Fashion Island, respectively, are participating in OC Restaurant Week 2025. These eateries are offering a thoughtfully curated three-course prix fixe dinner menu for $45, featuring the restaurant’s brunch and dinner highlights, including the Lemon Shrimp Pasta, Protein Bowl, and Ribeye Melt, ending with their celebrated Maple Bacon or seasonal doughnuts.
Dizzy Bird is a vibrant neighborhood rotisserie, which pays homage to the iconic spatchcock chicken served historically in Lebanon, Greece, and the encompassing Mediterranean countries. The eatery’s signature birds, all-natural and free of hormones and antibiotics, undergo rigorous preparation. In addition to the whole chicken, Dizzy Bird’s grilled chicken wraps—toasted over an open flame—are also packed with flavor and hit the spot.
During OC Restaurant Week 2025, both Dizzy Bird locations are retailing Grilled Wraps with a side and drink for $15 (lunch or dinner), Half Chicken Plates with two sides and a drink for $20 (lunch or dinner), and Whole Chickens with two sides for $25 (dinner only). Dizzy Bird’s offerings are greatly satisfying and well-priced.
Descanso Restaurant offers a one-of-a-kind take on Mexican dining, reimagining the taqueria experience through a modern lens. Helmed by Executive Chef Jose Angulo, the restaurant’s culinary team aims to serve dishes showcasing authentic Mexican flavors and recipes executed on a traditional Plancha (cooking plate). Descanso’s ambiance is lively, reminiscent of the bustling energy of a traditional Mexican town.
Decanso’s Orange County Restaurant Week menu includes a $35 three-course brunch menu, a $15 lunch menu, a $35 four-course dinner menu, a $65 date night dinner for two, and an indulgent Plancha menu for $70. Highlights from these diverse menus include Crab Cakes a la Benedict, Huevos Rancheros, Churro Pancakes, Ensalada Clasica, Salmon Dorado, Ribeye, and Arroz Con Leche Cheesecake.
Since 1987, Café Sevilla has been celebrating Spanish culture, by seamlessly marrying delectable cuisine, entertaining music, and a quaint ambiance. Located in San Diego, Long Beach, and Costa Mesa, the establishment transforms from a vibrant tapas bar and a refined restaurant to an energetic nightclub as the night progresses. Cafe Sevilla’s chefs whip up over 30 small plates in addition to traditional paellas, fresh seafood, and hearty meat dishes. The dining experience ambiance is further elevated by live Gypsy Kings-inspired musical performances, ending in a Flamenco Dinner Show presented on weekends.
Café Sevilla is offering a special three-course dinner menu priced at $45 per person for OC Restaurant Week. Guests can choose from eight delicious starters, including the Halibut and Shrimp Ceviche, the Spanish Salchichas a la Plancha, and the Croquettes de Queso y Jamón. Main course selections include the Salmon con Chorizo, the 16-hour Rioja Braised Short Ribs, or the Paella Valenciana. To end the meal, diners can choose between the lip-smacking Basque cheesecake and the Crema Catalana.
Anaheim White House serves authentic Italian cuisine in a restored turn-of-the-century mansion. The 2018 renovation has yielded a sophisticated dining experience, complete with twelve well-appointed private rooms and dining areas, perfect for a wide range of gatherings. Guests can choose between the elegant ambiance of the indoor dining rooms or the charming al fresco patio.
Anaheim White House’s OC Restaurant Week four-course dinner menu for $70 features their signature dishes such as the Filet Mignon, Braised Rabbit, Tagliatelle Amatriciana, Salmon Chocolat, Whitefish Florentine, Scaloppini Funghi, and Red Berry Mascarpone. This restaurant is our go-to for special occasions. The food and service never disappoint!
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Habana offers a vibrant escape, a slice of Cuban-inspired warmth, where tropical-themed decor pieces and arresting lighting fixtures craft an atmosphere distinctively festive. For OC Restaurant Week, the restaurant’s lunch menu is $25 and consists of a choice of appetizer, entrée, and dessert, with the option to add additional sides. Highlights include the Chicken Empanadas, Bocaditos de Picadillo, Beef Picadillo, Pollo Frito al Mojo, Tamal en Cazuela, and Caribbean Flan. The $45 three-course dinner menu features favorites such as the Ropa Vieja, Lechon Asado, and Salmon a la Parrilla.
“The menus for OC Restaurant Week are designed by our chef, Victor. I have to specially mention the Pollo Frito al Mojo (fried chicken Cuban style). It’s a dish we brought back for the second year in a row since last OC Restaurant Week. Alongside the Pollo Frito, the menu includes other traditional dishes such as Lechon Frito, Beef Picadillo, and our super popular Chicken Empanadas. We are always excited to participate in OC Restaurant Week so more people can join us and have their food adventures with us. We look forward to serving you all!” mentioned Rey Abreu, General Manager at Habana Irvine.
For a taste of Hawaiian life in Newport Beach, make your way to the iconic Billy’s at the Beach. This waterfront eatery boasts an authentic “Aloha” spirit, complete with stunning harbor views and the promise of a world-famous Mai Tai. Guests can soak in the awe-inspiring panoramic vistas of the Newport Bay, whether nestled by a window or immersed in the colorful “tiki vibe” on the patio and alfresco bar.
During OC Restaurant Week 2025, Billy’s is presenting a two-course, $25 lunch menu and $35 dinner menu featuring some of their bestselling dishes. Diners can choose from the 8oz New York Steak Frites, the Macadamia Crusted Salmon, or the delectable Garlic Shrimp and Frites, all accompanied with a refreshing Ohana Salad.
Mesa is a chic restaurant and lounge well-known for its modern American cuisine, craft cocktails, and stylish interiors. For OC Restaurant Week, this trendy eatery’s expert team has curated a three-course dinner menu priced at $38, which includes a choice of an appetizer, entrée, and dessert.
Guests can choose from mouth-watering dishes like the Calamari Frito, Hamachi Sashimi, Braised Short Rib, Steak Frites, Pesto Rigatoni, Cacio e Pepe, Creamy Panna Cotta, and Chocolate Bread Pudding. This gastro bar is perfect for a fun group dinner with family or friends!
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Pallavi Meera
Pallavi Mehra is a Los Angeles and Mumbai-based freelance journalist.
She studied Economics and English and currently writes about art,
culture and lifestyle for leading publications such as Travel +
Leisure, Vogue, GQ, Architectural Digest and more. An avid traveller
and design enthusiast, she finds inspiration in everything she
encounters, be it her immediate environment or her travels around the
world. Follow her on Instagram @pallywally_